Foreign ministers from across Southeast Asia assembled in Kuala Lumpur on Monday for a critical meeting aimed at halting a renewed and deadly border conflict between member states Thailand and Cambodia.
Urgent Diplomacy After Ceasefire Collapse
This special gathering of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) marks the second time this year the bloc has sought to mediate between the two neighbours. The latest fighting, which began on 8 December, shattered a ceasefire originally brokered by Malaysia and championed by then-U.S. President Donald Trump in July, and later formalised at an October regional summit.
The conflict escalated rapidly from a border skirmish on 7 December that wounded two Thai soldiers. Combat has since erupted on multiple fronts, involving Thai F-16 airstrikes and Cambodia's deployment of truck-mounted BM-21 rocket launchers, capable of firing up to 40 rockets simultaneously.
Mounting Human Cost and International Pressure
The human toll is severe. Officials report that more than two dozen people have been killed in the past week, while over half a million residents have been displaced from their homes. The violence has drawn significant international concern.
The U.S. Department of State issued a statement on Sunday urging both nations to "end hostilities, withdraw heavy weapons, cease emplacement of landmines, and fully implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords." Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated he discussed Thailand's "strong intention to work toward a ceasefire" with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Cambodia's Foreign Ministry confirmed Prak Sokhonn's attendance, reaffirming a commitment to peaceful dialogue.
Landmines and Propaganda War Stall Peace
Despite the October truce, which mandated prisoner release and the removal of heavy weapons and mines, progress has stalled. A bitter propaganda war continues, accompanied by sporadic violence. The issue of landmines is particularly contentious.
Thailand alleges Cambodia has laid new anti-personnel mines, pointing to a serious injury sustained by a Thai marine on Sunday. The Thai navy also claims to have found abandoned weapons in a former Cambodian stronghold, indicating deliberate mine use. Thailand plans to protest to Cambodia and to Zambia, chair of the Ottawa Convention, seeking action under the anti-mine treaty.
Cambodia maintains the mines are remnants of its long-ended civil war and has not immediately responded to the latest Thai accusations. The core dispute remains unresolved patches of territory along the shared border, with ASEAN diplomacy now under pressure to prevent further escalation.
